A Preston takeaway kebab shop in Lancashire, England, has been shut down after hygiene inspectors were horrified to find a deep-fried rat on its premises.
The Mexicano Food Box sold a variety of foods, ranging from kebabs, burritos, burgers and pizzas.
However, when the food inspectors revealed the deep-fried crispy rodent, the restaurant closed voluntarily.
Horrendous photos were captured by the council’s food hygiene officer, depicting a filthy, cockroach-infested kitchen area.
Moreover, kitchen appliances seemed to be covered in dirt, next to the dead rat. Bread buns had also been stored alongside raw doner kebabs, and a fridge packed with cheese was kept at 13°C, as opposed to the legal minimum temperature requirement of 8°C. Additionally, no soaps were present in the toilets.
Due to the poor sanitary conditions, the restaurant received a zero rating for hygiene, demanding ‘urgent improvement is necessary,’ and has been removed from several delivery websites.
The council sent a letter to the owner stating, "The premises was in a poor state of cleanliness at the time of the inspection, and a cockroach infestation was found without adequate control. Food was not protected from a risk of contamination. You agreed to voluntarily close the business to carry out a deep clean and put measures in place to control the cockroach infestation. Should similar conditions be found on any future inspections then formal action may be taken."
A spokesperson for the Preston City Council also stated that "where things go wrong, inspectors can detain and seize food, equipment, records, and in the worst cases require a business to stop using a particular ingredient, process or premises. Food law provides a minimum standard for businesses to maintain. Where businesses fail to maintain those hygiene standards, formal action will be taken where the proprietor does not cooperate fully."
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